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NYC DOT and Transportation Alternatives Kick Off Bike Month, Inviting New Yorkers to Join the City’s Growing Number of Bike Commuters

With hundreds of miles of new, world-class bike lanes and more than 200 events to attend, New Yorkers have more ways to celebrate Bike Month NYC 2010

New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan and Transportation Alternatives (T.A.) today announced the kickoff of Bike Month NYC 2010, with more than 200 organized rides, races and other events that will take place throughout the five boroughs in May as part of the 19th annual celebration of bicycling in New York City. Presented by DOT, T.A., the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and the Department of Parks & Recreation, Bike Month NYC promotes the safety, convenience and ease of cycling for transportation and recreation. Many of the wide-ranging activities are free and provide great opportunities to experience cycling as a real, effective commuting option in the five boroughs. Bike Month highlights include National Bike to Work Day on Friday, May 21, with a DOT-led commuter ride and commuter pit stops in every borough. This week, T.A. also launched its Commuter Challenge, asking New Yorkers to collectively ride 10 million miles during the month of May. Information on these and other events is listed at www.bikemonthnyc.org.

"Bike Month is the perfect time for New Yorkers to strap on a helmet and see how welcoming the city's streets, bridges and parks have become for cyclists, said Commissioner Sadik-Khan. "With an expanding bike network that gets people where they need to go, it's now safer and more convenient to ride than ever before and it's easy to see why cycling is becoming the commuting choice for a growing number of New Yorkers.

"Biking has come such a long way in such a short time, said Paul Steely White, Executive Director of Transportation Alternatives. "It's now a bona fide transportation choice that's moving thousands every day. And no other city in the nation is making bigger strides in safe, urban cycling than New York City.

While the month of activities is intended to support and encourage cycling as a healthy, fun, convenient and greener way to travel, initiatives have been underway to make cycling in the city a more accessible and reliable transportation option year-round. Part of that is ensuring that bike-related infrastructure keeps pace with the city's growing number of cyclists, which increased an estimated 66% in the last two years. The agency continues its push to expand options for New Yorkers since the lack of availability of secure bike parking is a main factor deterring would-be bike commuters. To better accommodate the city's growing number of cyclists, the agency is increasing its inventory of bike parking citywide, which is nearing 9,000 racks.

DOT also supported the City's Bike Access legislation, which took effect late last year, greatly increasing the potential for bike-parking spaces in New York 's commercial buildings. To date, DOT has received more than 300 requests for plans to provide access for some 2,400 bikes and 165 plans have already been approved citywide. DOT also is launching a new pilot where out-of-use single-space parking meters will be converted into bike racks. These racks feature a hybrid design that fuses a smaller version of the CityRack "Hoop" to parking meter poles that have been replaced by Muni-Meters. The new bike racks will be located along commercial corridors across the city such as Columbus and Madison avenues in Manhattan, Johnson Avenue in the Bronx, and 5th and 7th avenues in Brooklyn.

A sampling of Bike Month NYC activities held across the five boroughs is below. For a complete list of events or a printed schedule, visit www.bikemonthnyc.org. To highlight travel options for getting around by bike - including more than 30 miles of new bike routes - and tips for safe, smart riding, download the 2010 NYC Cycling Map at www.nyc.gov/bikes or order a free copy by calling 311. For more information, visit www.nyc.gov/dot.

Bike Month Event Highlights

National Bike to Work Day: May 21: Join T.A. at one of eight bike commuter stops for breakfast, tips and special giveaways for cyclists and participate in the first of six DOT's staff-led commuter bike rides.

DOT Staff-Led Commuter Bike Rides: Join DOT for a bike commute.

May 21 (Brooklyn to Midtown Manhattan)

May 24 (Queens to Lower Manhattan and Brooklyn to Midtown Manhattan)

May 27 (Queens to Lower Manhattan)

June 4 (Brooklyn to Midtown Manhattan)

June 7 (Brooklyn to Midtown Manhattan)

Kids Learn to Ride Classes - Free: Take your kids to one of many free classes offered by Bike New York to learn the basics of biking in a safe and social setting.

May 8 (classes offered in all five boroughs)

May 15 (the Bronx, Brooklyn, Staten Island and Queens)

May 22 (the Bronx and Brooklyn)

May 23 and May 29 (Brooklyn and Queens)

Bike Tour of DOT's Public Art Installations: Under bridges, beside bike paths and above sidewalks, DOT's Urban Art Program installs surprising art to streets citywide. Join DOT's public art tour on May 15 at 9:30 a.m. beginning at 23rd St. and 5th Ave. in Manhattan.